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YONKERS, N.Y. -- Students proved that "goals and grits" matter as 35 eighth-graders received their diplomas Friday at the 2016 commencement ceremony at Andrus Orchard School in Yonkers.

“You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights," Bryan R. Murphy, Andrus president and CEO, said to the graduates in his address at the special education school.

Students there receive individualized attention and support in smaller classes and learn life skills and the "art of managing emotions and academic competency," said a release.

Some of the graduates will continue on in mainstream education, while others will go on to secondary schools that specialize in working with youths who have learning, emotional and/or adjustment difficulties.

“From day one, your children have worked long and hard to heal, unlock their passion and abilities, build skills and learn that it is their goals and grit that matter, not their perceived limitations. We could not be more proud of them and look forward to their return visits as role models to our residents and students," Murphy told parents.